Free Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers by Lee Edward Födi Page B

Eenling’s fear,
    Whenever you find Kendra near,
    Shake and shudder for Eens to hear.
     

    There was a sharp flash of light and a cloud of smoke. When the haze cleared, Kendra could see that Ratchet was now wearing a tight collar around his neck. A large bell was hanging from it and it rang loudly.
    “As long as you’re in earshot of Kendra, that bell will sound,” Uncle Griffinskitch informed the raccoon. “So follow us if you like, Ratchet, but now I’ll know. And next time, I will not be so kind.”
    “Turn this thing off!” Ratchet cried, tugging at the collar. “It’s darn annoying!”
    “The only way to turn it off is for you to get as far away from Kendra as soon as possible,” the old Een wizard said.
    “But Uncle Griffinskitch!” Kendra exclaimed. “Can’t you at least let him spend the night? You’re not going to make him go home in the dark, are you?”
    “We’re all going to have to travel in the dark,” Jinx announced, gathering up their packs, which were still scattered about from the Unger attack. “We can’t stay here any longer. Those Ungers could come back with more of their pals. I’m afraid there will be no sleep for any of us tonight!”
    “Well, Ratchet Ringtail?” Uncle Griffinskitch asked, eyeing the raccoon. “Have I made myself clear?”
    “Yes!” Ratchet replied, pulling desperately at the collar.
    “Humph,” Uncle Griffinskitch said. He waved his staff again at the raccoon and muttered another incantation. “Now get that ringed tail of yours back to Een as fast as you can. And mind yourself! I don’t need to be rescuing you from some two-headed giant or other such nonsense.”
    “I’ll be careful,” Ratchet promised.
    “Come now,” Jinx urged the rest of the company. “Let’s get a move on.”
    “Bye, Ratchet,” Kendra called meekly to her friend as she picked up her pack and dusted it off.
    “Bye, Kendra,” Ratchet called back. “Be careful!”
    Kendra set off through the woods behind Captain Jinx and the others. She could still hear Ratchet’s bell ringing. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that it finally fell silent.
    “Well, that settles that,” Uncle Griffinskitch muttered.

    On through the night the tiny company marched. Kendra was exhausted. Each and every step took so much effort that it felt as if she was walking through quicksand. The sun stretched its arms of light upon a cold and dreary day, and still they walked on.
    “When can we stop?” Oki asked over and over again. “Aren’t we far enough away from the Ungers yet?”
    “I’ll let you know when, so you can stop asking,” Captain Jinx told the mouse. “The farther we get, the better.”
    And so they continued on through the rest of the day. The landscape grew more rugged and more tangled and with each step the tiny band of travelers grew more tired.
    At last, as the second evening approached, Jinx stopped in front of an old hollow log.
    “We’ll stop here,” she declared, after inspecting the fallen tree to make sure it was safe. As the rest of the company climbed wearily inside, Jinx drew her sword and assumed post at the open end of the log.
    “What are you doing, Jinx?” Kendra asked. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
    “No, I’ll keep watch,” the grasshopper replied. “We can’t all go drifting off. It’s too dangerous.”
    “Look at Uncle Griffinskitch,” Kendra said. “He must be exhausted.”
    The old Een had wandered to the very back of the log, collapsing into a heap of white hair. The curls of his whiskers fluttered up and down as he lightly snored.
    “And no wonder,” Professor Bumblebean said. “He has been toiling harder than anyone.”

    “What do you mean?” Kendra asked.
    “His magic has played a large role in sheltering us from the dangers of this outside world,” the professor explained. “He’s been exerting all his strength to create a magic shield to hide us from the prying eyes and sniffing noses of the Ungers and other